Electronic and Steric Tuning of a Prototypical Piano Stool Complex: Rh(III) Catalysis for C–H Functionalization

ConspectusThe history of transition metal catalysis is heavily steeped in ligand design, clearly demonstrating the importance of this approach. The intimate relationship between metal and ligand can profoundly affect the outcome of a reaction, often impacting selectivity, physical properties, and the lifetime of a catalyst. Importantly, this metal–ligand relationship can provide near limitless opportunities for reaction discovery. Over the past several years, transition-metal-catalyzed C–H bond functionalization reactions have been established as a critical foundation in organic chemistry that provides new bond forming strategies. Among the d-block elements, palladium is arguably one of the most popular metals to accomplish such transformations. One possible explanation for this achievement could be the broad set of phosphine and amine based ligands available in the chemist’s toolbox compatible with palladium. In parallel, other metals have been investigated for C–H bond functionalization. Among them, pen...